From the 33rd edition of “XXth Century Health And Pleasure Resorts Of Europe” published in 1933
GOVERNMENT – The French Constitution is embodied in three fundamental laws passed 1875, of a time when monarchy was being seriously considered. The President has thus many of the attributes of the constitutional sovereign of other countries. He is elected for a term of 7 years by the two houses in joint session. He nominally appoints ministers. He is " above party".
The legislature consists of a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate. The Chamber of Deputies is elected for 4 years by universal male suffrage over 21 by single-member constituencies. Should a member fail to obtain an absolute majority of votes on a first ballot, a second ballot is taken a week later, at which the candidate with the largest number of votes is elected. The Senate is elected by special departmental electoral colleges, consisting of the deputies for the department, the elected representatives of the various local areas.
Senators must be over 40, sit for 9 years, one-third retiring every 3 years. It acts mainly as a brake on ill-considered legislation.
The large number of parties is apt to render the Government unstable. but this is to some extent compensated by the stability of the administration. Local Government is dependent on higher authority, administration being thus very centralized.
HEAD OF STATE: (elected 1932)" Albert Lebrun, President.
Area: 550,986 km2.
Capital: Paris (Greater Paris has a population of about 5 millions).
Currency: Francs and centimes. I franc = 100 cts.
Languages: French is the official language. In local areas Breton, Basque, Alsatian, and Flemish are spoken, as well as the different dialects of the Languedoc (Provencal). Some of these languages have their own literature.
Population: Over 41 millions.
Density: 74,6 per km2.
Weights and Measures: Decimal system.
The Principality of Monaco is surrounded by French territory and the Mediterranean Sea. It is generally classified with the French Riviera, of which Monte-Carlo is one of the centres of attraction.
SPORTS, PASTIME AND SIGHTSEEING
BATHING: (Sea Coasts): The Northern Coast (Channel and Atlantic): Dinard, Le Tcuqnet-Parfs-Plage, etc. The Southern Atlantic Coast: Blarritz, St. Jean de Luz. The Riviera: Bandol s. Mer, Cannes, Cap d’Ail, Mentone, Monte~CarJoJ Nice, Sf-Raphael
BATHING: (Lake Shores): Aix-Ies-Bains (at Grand Port), Anneey, Dulngl (Les Llbellules) Menthon, Talioires (Lac d’ Annecy).
CLIMATIC RESORTS: (mild); Bandol, Biarritz, Cannes, Cap d’An, Mentone, Monte-Carlo, Nice, Pau, St. jean-ae-t.ez, SI. Raphael.
CLIMATIC. RESORTS: (higher altitude); Chamonix., Les "ouches, Megeve, Passy, Sancetlemoz, Sallanches, Sixt, St. Gervais-Ies-Bains,
FOX HUNTING: Biarritz, Le Touquet-Parls-Plage, Pau.
GAMBLING: (cercles prives)! Aix-les-Bains, Biarritz, Cannes, Dinard, Evian, Touquet-Parts-Plage, Monte-Carlo, Nice.
GOLF: Aix-Ies-Bains, Biarritz, Cannes, Dieppe, Dlnard, Evian, Hyeres, Le Fayet-St-Gervais, TouquetParls-Plage, Megeve, Mentone, Monte-Carlo, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Pau, St. Raphael, St. jean-de-Luz,
IMPORTANT TOWNS: (both from a commercial point of view and as tourist centres): Bordeaux, Colmar, Grenoble, LilIe, Marseilles, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Strasbourg.
MOUNTAIN RESORTS: Argentleres, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, Le Buet, Les Houches-M.-B., LesPraz, Megeve, Mont-Roc, Passy, Pralognan, Sallanches, Servoz, Sixt, St. tiervais-les-Bains.
MOUNTAINEERING: Argentleres, Chamonlx-Mont-Blanc, Le Buet, Les Houches-M.-B., Meg"ve, Pralognan, St. Gervais, Sixt.
POLO: Biarritz, Cannes, Le Touquet, Paris.
TENNIS: (International Tournaments); Aix":les-Bains, Biarritz, Cannes, Chamonix, Dinard, Dieppe, Evian, Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, Mentone, Monte- Carlo, Nice, Paris, Pau. Good courts are of course found at all places and hotels of importance.
TROUTFISHING: The Ardennes, the Chamonix Valley, Chaumont, Colmar (Vosges) the Pyrenees’, Digne, Sisteron, Besancon, Pontarlier, etc.
WINTER SPORTS: Argentleres, Chamonix, Les Houches, Megeve, Mont-Roc, Pontarlier, Sallanches, SI.Gervals, etc.
WATERING PLACES AND CURE ESTABLISHMENTS: Aix-Ies-Balns, Chlltel-Guyon, Evlan, Passy, Sancellemoz. St. Gervais-Ies-Bains. ‘
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